Category: Olympics

Recording the number of basketball fans has filled arenas to watch the Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese Recruit Seasons. Simone Biles captivated the world at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Coco Gauff made the history of women’s tennis.

All this was part of a central year for women in sport, financially and culturally, and after a constant increase in popularity and scope in recent years, the female game is more precious than ever.

“(Clark) has just moved the needle of the World Women’s Movement in Sports,” said Jennie Finch, the big and the Olympic gold medalist. “And what a shiver is to be able to see her go up.”

Consulting company Deloitte said in November 2023 that female sports would generate more than a billion dollars in world income this year for the first time, which, according to the company, increased by around 300% compared to its last estimate in 2021. Major factors.

In July, the WNBA signed a historic 11 -year -old media rights agreement with Disney, Amazon Prime and NBC worth around $ 200 million – a leap to around 60 million dollars currently. The players hope that higher wages and a greater share of income could be on the horizon while parity, the power of the stars and the competition in the WNBA continue to grow.

The WNBA has experienced its most watched regular season in 24 years and the best attendance in 22 seasons, and Commissioner Cathy Engelbert declared in a recent address of the state of the league that players get much more marketing offers, transforming them into household names. This includes the Las Vegas star A’ja Wilson, who has experienced one of the most dominant seasons in the history of the WNBA, and Clark, which has set numerous recus records.

The decisive match 5 of the WNBA final between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx pulled an average of 2.2 million viewers, culminating at 3.3 million, which made it the most watched WNBA match in 25 years.

“We have gained popularity, in the media rights, all these things,” said Amira Rose Davis, sport historian and assistant professor at the University of Texas in Austin.

“This period is rapid acceleration,” continued Davis. “Where all this growth seems to pass to overdrive, where transactions become larger, where visibility extends.”

Clark, the Vivel Indiana goalkeeper became a phenomenon when she played in Iowa, capitalized on a foundation placed by stars of hoops such as Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker and Wilson, and turbocharged the Visibility of women’s basketball.

Ticket sales for Indiana fever matches increased by 182% in 2024 compared to the previous season. The fever also broke the attendance record of 13,398 established by Liberty in 1998 with approximately 16,084 tickets sold per game. And the games showing Clark and its rival on the Reese field of the Chicago Sky have prompted debates on social networks on basketball, race and culture.

“Something I have always tried to do with me was to climb and raise the match,” said Finch, now advisor to the Softball of Athletes Unlimited. “And that’s what (Clark) does and his teammates. And just to be able to watch her do it and how much she humbly does it, and the impact not only of domestic female basketball, but female athletics in the world. It’s a dream.

While many indicate the WNBA as a plan to succeed in female sports, the achievements in 2024 went far beyond a league or an athlete.

Gauff, the 20 -year -old tennis superstar, was the best -paid female athlete in the world this year with $ 30.4 million in income, according to the Sporto ranking. Gauff could not defend his title of open in 2023, but ended his 2024 season with a WTA final title and a check for $ 4.8 million – the biggest payment of all time For a female tennis event, by Sportico.

The Olympic Games approached the complete gender parity for the first time among the more than 11,000 men and women who contributed to Paris this summer.

More than 34 million people on all NBC platforms in the United States have seen Biles exorcise demons from its surprising release of Tokyo Games three years earlier. The 27 -year -old woman shared a message of resilience and redemption when she added four gold medals to her CV. Almost everything she did in Paris made the headlines – an applause on social media trolls, a revelation on her mental health, a moment of triumph. His tiktok showing the gold medals of the United States team of team competition has more than 139 million views.

“It has become a symbol,” said Davis. “Whether you want to symbolize it as persevering or talk about mental health or refusal, the policy of refusal. Or (that) you wanted to symbolize it as an abandonment – to be everything you deplore in the country. Anyway, the two projections have even higher it. »»

And while Gauff and Biles skyrocketed, the leagues of other women have taken advantage of this visibility.

The Professional Women’s Hockey League brought 392,259 fans during its inaugural regular season, underlined by a record for female hockey of 21,105 at the NHL Canadiens Maison for a Montreal-Toronto confrontation. The league has also concluded sponsorship agreements with Scotiaban, Air Canada and Hyundai.

The strong first season of the PWHL showed its organizers and players that there is an appetite for female sports, so much so that there is hope to go from six to eight teams in 2025.

“For many of us who have been in the game for so long, it is emotional to think about the origin of the game, from where we have arrived,” said Jayna Hefford, vice-president of hockey operations in the League . “We spend a lot of time reading research and all these things that suggest time is now and that the Fandom is there. And being able to experience this and feeling it in real time was quite special. »»

Keith Stein and Justine Siegal also want to capitalize on the female sports landscape.

Siegal, a former baseball player and coach, has teamed up with Stein, lawyer and businessman, to create the female baseball league, which announced last month his intention to launch in 2026 as a circuit Six teams for players. It will be the first professional league for women since the Professional Baseball League for All-American girls dissolved in 1954.

“Leagues like WNBA and the Women’s Football League (National) have made a lot of big efforts,” said Stein. “And they are partly responsible as long as we have at this time when women’s sport is a phenomenon.

“I think there are, in some respects, much more momentum behind the development of women’s sports leagues than for men.”

Keely Hodgkinson was crowned sports personality of the BBC of the year during a award ceremony in Salford on Tuesday evening, at the end of an astonishing year which saw her become the 800m Olympic champion in Paris.

Hodgkinson clearly stormed the final to finally win a world gold medal, having won money at Tokyo Games three years earlier and won the money at the world athletics championships twice.

The Spoty Prize caps 12 months for the 22 -year -old woman from the Grand Manchester, during which she also successfully defended her European title and set a new British record of 1 min 54.61 second, making her sixth The fastest woman in history.

After being announced the winner by Sir Chris Hoy, Hodgkinson said on stage: “This year was absolutely incredible for me.

“I realized everything I started to do on the outdoor track, which is rare, so I am very grateful to be in this position. Thank you to everyone who voted at home – I hope you all loved looking at Paris as much as I loved participating.

Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows won the year’s prize for the year after guiding the athlete towards glory, and Hodgkinson said: “I am actually more excited to make my trainer honest because I would not be Not where I am without him and his of the advice that I have since the age of 17. »»

Hodgkinson came out at the top of a public vote in a limited list of six athletes which contained the Paralympic champion in series Lady Sarah Storey, Real Madrid and the star of England Jude Bellingham, the record test of England, Joe Root, the gold medalist of the Olympic triathlon Alex Yee and the adolescent rooms and the rooms adolescence of the Olympic triathlon Alex Yee and the adolescence rooms and the teenage fairs, the Olympic triathlon Alex Yee and the adolescence rooms and the adolescent rooms, the triathlon Olympic Sensation Luke Littleler, which has already been presented with the prize of the sporting personality of the year.

Littler became the youngest player to reach the World Darts Championship final at the age of 16 and 347 days, and also won the finals of the Premier League Darts, the Grand Slam and the World Series of Darts.

He also finished second in the main prize, while a root with the Lanc eyes received the third trophy from his teammate in England Harry Brook, in the morning after the end of his victorious series in New Zealand.

The legend of cycling Mark Cavendish won the prize for life for life after winning a record victory of the 35th Tour de France and withdrawing from the sport.

Accepting the gong of his family and the good friend Bradley Wiggins, Cavendish joked: “I am not very good at speaking in public, that is why I make a bike to live. Or I did it.

“I have always been a sports fan, and sport has this incredible ability to inspire. Whether you want to compete, play, stay in shape, you can do what you want with sport. It is good that we celebrate it with Spoty, we are such a strong nation in the world of sport, and to celebrate that each year is very special.

“He is such a massive man, it’s so charming. THANKS.”

The other prizes announced on Tuesday included the best sportsman abroad, won by the Swedish Vaulter Mondo Duplantis, and the team of the year, which went to the champions of the Warriors Rugby League.

Geneva (AP) – The seven candidates who present themselves to the president of the International Olympic Committee saw their manifests published on Thursday, and one of an offer to take only half of the term of eight years and to stand in 2029.

Sebastian Coe, the world president of athletics who was 68 years old this year, is committed to joining “a transformer change in the next four years”, then re -election before the scheduled date.

Coe was one of several candidates offering to give back to the members of the IOC – which elects their president at a meeting from March 18 to 21 near the site of the former Olympia in Greece – a decisive choice in the selection of future host cities.

Under the practical presidency of Thomas Bach, who reaches his 12 -year limit in power next year, the members are now simply on rubber a single host candidate who worked with the IOC administration.

Two members of the board of directors of the Bach-Chaired IOC, Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr. and Prince Feisal Al Hussein, joined Coe to promise to allow members to have a more important role in the Olympic organization. They also promise to raise the retirement age for members aged 70 to 75.

Members must be invited to join the CIO exclusive club and the current 111 include European and Middle East royalty, international sports corps, current and current Olympic athletes, politicians, diplomats, industrialists and a Oscar -winning actress.

Only IOC members can be presidential candidates and other contenders are the member of the board of directors Kirsty Coventry and three other presidents of sports governance organizations: Johan Eliasch of Skiing, David Lapparti de Cyclisme and Morinari Watanabe de Gymnastics.

Manifest outings are one of the two Set events in a mainly opaque campaign with strict rules to limit self-promotion and engagement with voters. The candidates will present themselves to the voters, but will not answer questions at a meeting of January 30 at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The IOC did not have a president and only nine men who lead him in a 130 -year story. Eight of these presidents came from Europe and one of the United States.

Coventry, the 41 -year -old sports minister from Zimbabawe, is only the second candidate to present herself to CIO leaders and is widely considered as Bach’s favorite choice to pursue his policies.

Coventry and Coe are twice Olympic champions in swimming and track, respectively. Coe also directed the organization of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

COE has upset the Establishment of the IOC – including some voters – this year by initiating global athletics to pay $ 50,000 in prices at gold medalists in athletics at the Paris Olympic Games. Sport will also pay silver and bronze medalists at the Los Angeles 2028 summer games.

Although he does not specify the price, Prince Feisal called for the Olympic athletes to be “properly appreciated” while Samaranch proposed to let the athletes use images of their performance on social networks. This would relax the strict CIO rules on the ability of Olympic athletes to promote.

The challenges that the IOC is confronted with the selection of a host for the 2036 Olympic Games, with India and Qatar in the mixture, and seeking to move the summer games of its established place from July-August in the modern sports calendar.

The next IOC president must also address the impact of climate change on the global sports calendar, gender problems in sports, when and how to bring Russia fully to the Olympic Games and sign a new American broadcasting agreement. The long-standing agreement of the NBC partner expires after the Brisbane Olympic Games of 2032 and was a foundation of Olympic income, which was $ 7.6 billion in the 2021-24 Olympic cycle.

The presidency of the IOC was limited to 12 years of anti-corruption reforms adopted after the auction scandal of Salt Lake City broke out in 1999. The first mandate is eight years and the presidents can request a second and last mandate of four years.

___

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Right in a sock and slipped carefully inside a drawer in Charlottesville, in Virginia by Gretchen Walsh, is four pieces of metal that weigh 6,428 pounds combined.

The 6,428 pounds of metal include the four medals – two gold and two silver – the native of Nashville won at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The 6,428 pounds of metal are a great reason why Walsh, a graduate of Harpeth Hall and Senior of the University of Virginia, is the Tennessean sportsman of the year 2024.

The 6,428 pounds of metal are not the best travel companions.

Sister, sister: Alex, Gretchen Walsh has gone from floating in Nashville pools at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

MORE: How Polly Linden helped build the swimmers of Harpeth Hall in Olympic contenders

MORE: He was the first Olympic gold medalist in Tennessee – and he did it 100 years ago in Paris

“I didn’t want to bring them home with me because they are really heavy, and they also stop me by TSA because they look very suspect on the X -ray machine,” said Walsh , which won gold in the 400 Relaying Medley and 400 mixtures and silver relays in the 100 butterfly and 400 free relay. “It’s this big black circle and it’s not warm and friendly, let’s just say that.”

Walsh broke the world record in 100 butterflies in June during American Olympic tests in Indianapolis and in the 400 swimming relays mixed in Paris.

Walsh added seven other gold medals to the world short-term world championships earlier this month in Budapest, where she broke the world records 11 times more, including nine in individual events.

It’s 14 times, she broke world records.

Fourteen.

Without forgetting, she – with her older sister, Alex – helped Virginia to her fourth consecutive NCAA team championship in March. Gretchen won seven events there.

“I don’t wear them often,” said Walsh about his Olympic medals. “From time to time, I come out of the sock. I like to try to remember:” Oh, my God. It really happened, and it was I who did that. “”

“How is it going at the moment?”

Gretchen Walsh was, from all things, halfway up during a warming between his free semi-final and the final of the 100 Mixed Swimming on August 3 when the most heartbreaking moment shone in front of his eyes.

She had just looked at Alex winning the bronze medal in the 200 individual swimming.

She was looking forward to “going to give her a big hug”.

This big hug for his sister, who led halfway through the racing and entered the fastest qualification time, turned out to be more for comfort than celebration.

“I saw this, as, the Red square appears on the screen, and it was next to the name of Alex,” said Gretchen. “It was the symbol of disqualification. It was really heartbreaking. First of all, I was in shock, like:” How is it going at the moment? “”

Gretchen Walsh: Olympics Swimming Record Holder in Paris 2024 with Sister Alex what know

Alex, who won Silver during the Tokyo 2022 games event, had made an illegal backstroke transition to Breassroke.

Gretchen “didn’t know what to do.”

What she did was to show her courage by helping the mixed relay to gain gold, establishing a world record in the process.

“She certainly thought about it,” said Gretchen about her sister. “I think she has accepted it, but it will always be there, so it’s sad. The relay on which I was, I wanted to swim for it and do it in honor of Alex. I wanted to make her proud. “”

“ Seeing them brought all kinds of emotions ”

The most precious memory of Gretchen Walsh of the Paris Games is not rooted to a gold record or a world record, but following a scary defeat.

Walsh was the favorite towards the 100 butterflies final, fresh out of an Olympic record time in the semi-finals. She finished second, 0.04 seconds behind her American teammate Torri Huske.

.04 seconds.

“I was not super happy to have obtained the second,” said Gretchen. “I was the world’s favorite to get the first.”

After winning a victory tour with Huske and standing next to her on the podium, Walsh spotted her parents, Glynis and Robert, in the stands.

“Once I saw them, I completely broke down and I realized that there was no reason why I was upset about it,” she said. “It was the greatest moment in my swimming career and seeing them brought all kinds of emotions.

“I really moved away from this victory tour, this medal ceremony being proud of myself and I felt grateful to have had the opportunity to represent my country and show myself that I am able to realize my greatest dream of all time. “

“No one really cares about what you did during the summer”

Eight years ago, at the age of 13, Gretchen Walsh was the youngest competitor of the American Olympic trials. Three years ago, she failed to go to Tokyo. This year, she is a double Olympic gold medalist.

It has not finished either.

Walsh said she planned to swim at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, if she qualified.

For the moment, however, she tries to be as “normal” a college student as she can. Trying, with her sister, to help Virginia win another national championship.

“I feel like I’m going back to school was super humiliating,” said Walsh. “As, in class, no one really cares about what you have done during the summer. In many ways, I am treated normally at school.”

Outside the classroom may be different.

“It’s weird, because people certainly recognize that I may be a little celebrity on campus, which is so crazy,” said Walsh.

Breakout (I don’t know how to format them for the web and / or printing)

One year to remember

The victories of Gretchen Walsh in 2024

Olympic Games

400 swim relays (gold); Relay mixed 400 swimming (gold); 100 butterflies (money; world record broken during American Olympic tests), 400 free relays (money)

Short lesson in the world

50 free (2 world records); 100 free; 50 butterfly (2 WR); 100 butterfly (3 WR); 100 individual mixture (2 WR); 400 free relay (1 WR); 400 four -swim relays (1 WR).

NCAA Championships

50 free; 100 free; 100 butterfly; 200 free relays; 400 free relay; 200 relays four swimming; 400 Quatre swims; Team title.

Paul Skrbina is a journalist from the sports company covering predators, titans, Nashville SC, local colleges and local sports for Tennessean. Join it at pskrbina@tennessan.com and on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter) @PaULSKRBINA. Follow his work here.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: why Gretchen Walsh is 2024 Tennessean sportsman of the year

Yusra Mardini went up on a plane in Germany for the holidays overwhelmed by emotion. The news had just filtered Syria with the overthrow of the longtime dictator of the Bashar al-Assad country.

Joy and relief were welcomed by hesitation, a reluctance to really celebrate. The former Olympic swimmer of the Olympic refugee team (ROT) would sit with her thoughts for the next 10 hours, unable to access the Internet to really understand the extent of such a historic moment.

Now living in Los Angeles, Mardini has been survived for almost 10 years has survived a treacherous crossing of the Aegean Sea in a rubber canoe alongside her sister Sara, successfully escaping her country torn apart by war. Mardini’s birth history allowed him to survive.

The engine of the boat began to fail at only 30 minutes after the departure of Turkey and with 20 people piled up in a space designed for only six, Mardini and his sister chose to sacrifice their own safety. By jumping in the free date, they swam for three hours to reduce the prospect of the caps of the boat before finally reaching Lesbos, in Greece.

Bombs landing around her house in Darayya on the outskirts of Damascus, her miraculous resolution journey ended with her which finally reached Germany in the hope of a better life. This quickly materialized in the form of two appearances at the Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo. Her story would later be told in the film Netflix Swimmers.

“The last thing I saw before flying is that half of Syria was released,” said Mardini The independentAfter having quickly forgotten his exams at the USC before attending the world swimming championships this month in Budapest.

“It was the longest flight of my life, there was no internet on the plane, I didn’t know anything, but when I landed, I saw it, Syria is free from the diet ASSAD. I was in total shock. It is deeply rooted, the fear of this diet. I thought: “What if he comes back?” And “Is it real?”

“I didn’t want to risk my family’s life in Syria. It was intense. But I made, slowly, it’s real and that happens and I was very happy. »»

The immediate future is uncertain, the priorities dispersed. The leader of the group of insurgents Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, who led the movement to force Assad to power, promised to court those who imprisoned, tortured and killed dissident votes under the regime.

Mardini is also in conflict on the next steps. She has major projects for her Yusra Mardini foundation, but she is clever enough to realize that there is a need for patience.

His passion for swimming and the capacity of the sport to inspire can wait. She hesitates on several occasions during our conversation during the discussion of her country’s potential, returning to the urgent need to contribute to undernourished Syrians and to provide fundamental human rights, or simply the right to a dream.

“The fear of this regime and everything they have done to the people is deeply rooted, we have never lost hope in what we deserve: human rights, the right to dream, just for being human , like anyone, ”she says. “It was incredible to see the Syrians come together, we know that we are not able to build an incredible country, but we want to try to heal, build houses from zero. Be able to be there for each other.

“I think that the Syrians are frustrated, everyone tries to discover what is going on, the next steps, but we are so traumatized, we have so many problems, people online for bread, there are still people In mourning, people who are not part of houses.

“I don’t think we are ready for another regime, it will take a while to trust a government. Actions speak more than words. But for the moment, we have to focus on the humanitarian side of it, to help the Syrians and give them shelter to feel safe again.

“”[What we ultimately want is] Very simple: a country and a government that respect human rights and understand that people want freedom, peace and dignity. »»

The 26 -year -old is now withdrawn from the swimming pool, after participating in the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly. Inspired by her friend, the legendary American swimmer Katie Ledecky, Mardini attended the games in Paris this summer, covering the sport as an expert for Eurosport to the defense Arena, where two of the Rot 37 record athletes, Alaa Maso and morning Bulssini, competed, competed, competed, compensated, contributed, contributed, Alaa Maso and morning Burgini, competed. .

“It took me a few years for not having won a gold medal, because it was my dream,” adds Mardini, now in peace with his way being to make a difference. However, the upgraded situation of the house raises the question: would it come out of retirement to represent Syria?

“The representation of Syria now represents its people,” explains Mardini. “I don’t think I would care who is the government, I would like to represent my people anyway. But I am retired. Will I get out of retirement? I doubt it, but if I ever do it, I would like to represent my country and swim for Syria. »»

Her future, she hopes, will understand both a return to Syria when the opportunity arises, and her studies at the school of cinematographic arts, where she specializes in cinematographic and televised production, with an eye on obtaining the diploma in 2026.

And although there are more urgent things to do in Syria when celebrations calm down, Mardini maintains sport can play a crucial role in what promises to be “a new era” for the country.

“I don’t know when I come back,” admits Mardini. “It will depend on the fact that Syria is in peace and quieter. I want to try to support with education and sport lessons, with the foundation, with the self -esteem of children or adults, and help them psychologically. Either professionally or for fun, both can help. I want to go back as soon as possible.

“There is a lot of work to do, I sometimes wonder how I can give sports lessons if they don’t even have a house?” But I speak to humanitarian workers, they say that they like all types of normality. If they have sport and education, it helps to build their future and take the next steps.

“For me, it was always swimming, no matter where I was in the world. Even if I was in a tent, I still thought about it, my next goal and I went to the Olympic Games. Sport and education can change lives and that has changed mine, so why not help and give these opportunities to other refugees and Syrians when I turn there? »»

On Natalie Esquire and Callie End of her lawn, think about their best female sports moments of the year, Olympic victories of the gold medal, historic WNBA finals, the female basketball final of NCAA And many strong return stories.

1) NCAA National Championship: South Carolina vs Iowa

The Gamecocks of the University of Southern Carolina ended their undefeated season after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes of Caitlin Clark 87-75 in the NCAA 2024 tournament. The game attracted 18.9 million viewers, becoming the basketball match -most watched academic ball of all time. Overall, there was a significant increase in the audience and fans for female university basketball in 2024, with star players like Clark and Angel Reese having an impact on the field and attracting new fans in The game.

Led by the legendary Dawn Staley, who has accumulated several distinctions of the coach of the year, and Kamilla Cardoso, a defensive star of the year, the Gamecocks obtained their third national championship title. “When young people register and believe, and have confidence, and their parents have the same confidence, that’s what can happen,” said Staley after victory. “They made history. They engraved their names in history books. »»

2) New York Liberty wins the first WNBA championship

The New York Liberty, an original WNBA franchise, won its very first WNBA championship, beating Minnesota Lynx, 67-62, and passing 3-2 in the series. The 2024 season has failed through the league, with attendance numbers and an audience. The n ° 1 seems to be Liberty had reached the last five times, in particular by falling to the aces in 2023, but had never won. The title 2024 marked the first victory of the basketball championship for New York in 48 years, and Ellie The Elephant celebrated accordingly.

3) American female gymnastics recover the gold from the team to the Olympic Games

Led by Simone Biles, the American female gymnastics team recovered the gold team at the Paris Olympic Games. After bringing Silver back in 2020, all the eyes were on the redemption tour of the American team and the return of Biles to the Olympic competition after she withdrew from Tokyo with the twists. The team presented Tokyo Returners Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee and Jade Carey. The Americans had a 3.602 led to Italy before the final rotation, where Biles delivered his double twist on the ground to win the fourth gold medal in the United States in the event.

4) Katie Ledecky four peats in 800m freestyle at the Paris Olympic Games

On the anniversary of his first gold medal in the 800m female freestyle (August 3, in London 2012), Katie Ledecky won her fourth consecutive medal in the event in Paris. In a granular and flowing race, Ledecky prevented the Australian star Ariarne Titmus, who was 11 years old when Ledecky won his first gold in the event. With the victory, Ledecky now has 14 Olympic medals, including nine, which makes her the most decorated American athlete woman to participate in the Olympic Games.

5) The USWNT exceeds Brazil to gain gold at the Paris Olympic Games

The USWNT won its fifth gold medal in Paris after a tight match 1-0 against Brazil. The victory occurred only 70 days after Emma Hayes began her mandate as a head coach, her new leadership a breath of fresh air for a program that won gold last time in 2012 and S ‘is installed for bronze in 2016. The self -proclaimed “triple espresso” trio of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson fueled the team through An undefeated tournament. The match was also Marta’s last international match, with her retirement in the end of 2024.

6) USATF comes from behind to win gold in the 4x100m relay

Anchored by Sha’Carri Richardson, Melissa Jefferson, Twanisha Terry and Gabby Thomas won the first medal of the team in eight years with their gold medal in the 4x100m relay. Richardson came from behind in fourth place to secure gold, 0.07 seconds ahead of Great Britain and Germany in a rainy and tight race. It was Thomas’ second Olympic Games, while everyone made their Olympic debut.

7) American basketball won the 8th Olympic consecutive in Thriller

The American basketball women’s team added to its undefeated sequence at the Olympic Games, beating the France host in a 67-66 match of 67-66. With the granular victory, the United States has won its eighth consecutive gold medal and have now won 61 games in a row at the Olympic Games, from 1992. Led by A’ja Wilson and its 21 points and the coach- Chef Cheryl Reeves, the team has become the first team of all sports in Olympic history to win eight consecutive gold medals.

8) Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone broke his own world record

What can’t she do? Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was the gold medalist defending the hedges of the 400m women in the direction of Paris. She not only obtained gold once again, but finished in 50.37, 0.28 seconds faster than her world record that she set in June in Olympic tests and demolished the Olympic record for 51.46.

9) Coco Gauff Rallies to win the first WTA final title

Coco Gauff, 20, has become the youngest player since 2004 to win the WTA final, after a season filled with ups and downs, including the longest match for the title of the final of the final of the WTA. With her victories during the tournament, she has also become the youngest player since 2002 to beat n ° 1 and n ° 2 in title and won the largest WTA price of $ 4.8 million.

10) Team USA wins the very first female rugby medal

In the last seconds of the bronze medal rugby match, All Hope seemed lost for the United States, down 7-12 against Australia. Then, Alex Sedrick of the USA team shaped the entire length of the field, plunging for a test that would equalize the match. Sedrick, not a designated kicker, has converted to secure the first medal of the American team in sport since it was added in 2016 and the first rugby 15 or 7 medal for the United States since 1924. “I hope it means that we get more matches in stadiums like this, we get more money and funding for the female game. We deserve it. We need more girls in the United States By trying rugby and seeing what she can do for them, ”said Ilona Maher.

Receiving autographs by schoolchildren is still a novelty for Phoebe Gill that she must remember why: she ran in the Olympic semi-finals at the age of 17.

This recognition, recognizes Gill, is “the main thing that has changed in my life, but I am very grateful for this year”.

Post-Olympic life was taken care of by tests, courses and exams when she is preparing to sit her levels A, but in July, Gill was the youngest member of the Athletics team of the GB team for over 40 years.

Partly of a contingent of 800 meters alongside Keely Hodgkinson and Jemma Reekie, Gill was forced to grow quickly after winning the British championships in July to qualify for Paris 2024.

“I think I learned a lot,” said Gill Telegraph Sport from his house in St Albans. “I almost became a different person in terms of confidence, because my life changed in a day when I ran the time of Olympic and sudden qualification, I had to face the new challenge which is the media and the races Seniors.

“Being a young person in the field of an older person with qualifications to go to the Olympic Games, I felt like I had to grow in a way.”

Last year was undoubtedly a season of small groups for Gill. In May, just after 17 years, she ran the 800m in 1 min 57.86 seconds, breaking a European record under 185 years old established by Marion Geissler-Hubner of East Germany. The following month, she stung the seasoned Reekie in first place at the national championships with a time of 1: 58.66.

Preparing for Paris having run in front of the crowd containing at most a thousand people, Gill had to have an unorthodox step. With the help of her agent, she had access to the London Diamond League track as a spectator and was “breathtaking” by the closed counters stadium. However, all the Olympic experience was always a shock.

“I had tried to prepare myself in all ways, but there is simply no way you can prepare to enter into [the Olympics]”Explains Gill. “Because you go there and the whole city is decorated with the decor of the Olympic Games and you realize how large this event is and that goes to the Olympic village – it’s a city, it’s massive.

“The feeling when you go out at the stadium and there are just thousands of people watching, I could do nothing to really prepare myself at this time because it was shocking and very crushing.

“But this feeling after having run and I could take everything – because I was trying to block everything before the starting line – it was so incredible and I don’t think I could reproduce this again.”

The Gill Olympic Games finally ended with tears because it was “submerged by emotion” and “overwhelmed by the fact that everything had ended” when it did not qualify for the Olympic final via the ‘One of the fastest launched places. But she was comforted by her teammate and the future gold medalist Hodgkinson, who reminded her of her future in sport.

As 2025 approaches, Gill’s current aspirations could not be further from the Violet track of the Stade de France.

School success has always been a priority for Gill when she confronts the choice facing many students of the 13th year: which universities postulate. But far from books and practice questions, there are always reminders of his summer feat.

“Sometimes I’m going to go out and there will be a young girl or a boy who looked at me at the Olympic Games and they will come and ask for a photo or a signature and I will say to myself:” What? ” For what?’ And I will remember that I went to the Olympic Games, ”explains Gill.

Looking beyond the next few months, Gill is home to the ambitions to relive his Olympic experience in Los Angeles 2028, but recognizes that the competition for a place in the British team will be difficult.

More immediately, his attention to athletics will focus on qualifying for the world championships in Tokyo next September, the biggest event outside an Olympic year. But above all that, there is still school and levels A.

Phoebe Gill faces the campaign for the 247 x Puma collection, which is available now.

Expand your horizons with award -winning British journalism. Try the telegraph for free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award -winning website, our exclusive application, money saving offers and more.

There is a chance that Simone Biles does not compete in the 2028 Olympic Games, and as much as this sentence seems unreal, there is a reason why it is indecisive on this subject.

When Biles arrived at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games last year, there were a lot of questions about the question of whether it would be a rehearsal of the Tokyo 2021 games. Unfortunately, the biles had to withdraw from the competition due Twisting or potentially fatal gymnastics that prevent athletes from knowing where they are in the air. But Paris was different. The biles left with three gold medals and a silver, solidifying its status as goat from female gymnastics.

Rightly so, questions from the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games began. At the time, Biles said: “You never say” with a smile. But she could be more torn to be there than we thought before. According to Stephanie Apstein of Sports Illustrated, Biles revealed the competition in the next Olympic Games to return. “Life and death,” she said. Here are more biles on the decision:

More Olympics!

When did the broncos made the playoffs for the last time? 6 crazy sporting events that have occurred since

A jordan chiles in tears says she still has the bronze Olympic medal that she is fighting to keep

12 USWNT Olympic football stars in the NWSL 2024 qualifiers, including Trinity Rodman

This article was initially appeared on the victory: Simone Biles revealed why she was torn in connection with the competition at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games 2028

This is the question that fans cannot stop asking: Will Simone Biles return to the Olympic Games in 2028?

Biles won four additional medals at the 2024 summer Olympic Games in Paris, increasing her total number of Olympic medals to 11, well enough to make her the most decorated American gymnast in Olympic history.

So, will she try to add to her inheritance by hitting the carpet again when the summer matches take place in Los Angeles in 2028? What circumstances should be in place for this to happen?

“Life and death,” she told Sports Illustrated in her interview for having named her athlete of the year. “Because I have done so many things, there is almost nothing left to do, rather than just being snobbone and trying again and for what?” I am at a time in my career when I am humble enough to know when to have finished.

Biles, which is married to the safety of Chicago bears, Jonathan Owens, thinks that enough can be sufficient in this case.

“If you come back, you will be greedy. These are the consequences, ”she said. “But it is also your decision to decide. What sacrifices would be made if I went back now? When you are younger, it’s like, ball, college. Now it’s like, starting a family, being far from my husband. What is really worth it?

The sporting functionality of the Sports Year illustrated on Biles stresses that it does not know the answer to this question at the moment.

Biles may be the most successful gymnast in history, but she cannot understand everything she has accomplished.

“I don’t think reality has established what I did exactly in sport,” she said. “I can see it, and I hear it people, and I see an overview, but full amplitude, I don’t think I realized. I don’t think I will realize until I retire and look back in a few years like, damn, she was good. Because I can see it, but I do it every day. So for me, it’s normal.

What Simone Biles said to Hoda Kotb

After her Olympic race last August, Biles spoke live today with Hoda Kotb of her future in sport and if she plans to participate in the following summer matches.

“You know, you never say. The next Olympic Games are on the lawn at home. So you never know, ”she said. “I’m just going to relax and see where life leads me.”

Biles said so much after bringing back a gold in the individual final of the safe on August 3.

“Never say never,” said Biles at a press conference. “The next Olympic Games are at home. So you never know. I really get older.

Although almost everyone who watched the Olympic Games are impatient to see what awaits biles on the line, the gymnast also spoke to share its reflections on demand.

Biles said in August 4: “You really have to stop asking athletes what is the continuation after winning a medal at the Olympic Games.”

“Let us enjoy the moment we have worked on our whole lives,” she added.

Between the Janeiro Rio Games, 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris, Biles accumulated 11 Olympic medals, including seven.

In Paris, Biles managed a record race, becoming the most decorated American Olympic gymnast of all time after Team USA won gold in the final team on July 30. The star athlete again won gold in the final of August 1 and the final jump August 3.

All eyes were on the gymnast after having removed the Tokyo Olympic Games which were held in 2021, quoting “Twisties”, a mental phenomenon which affects the capacity of a gymnast to perceive where it is in the air.

Since the unexpected withdrawal of biles of events during these summer games, she has been opened on her mental health difficulties and has attributed therapy with her return.

“Doing something that I did forever and that I just can’t do it because of everything I experienced is really crazy because I love this sport so much,” said Biles today in October 2021.

“It’s difficult. I’m sorry. And I don’t think people understand the extent of what I go through, but for so many years to go through everything I have experienced, I am proud of myself.

This article was initially published on TODAY.COM

The star of Olympic athletics, Fred Kerley, was arrested in Florida Thursday evening after a confrontation with the police.

Friday, images of cameras carried by the body published by the Miami Beach police service show Kerley, the Olympic bronze medalist reigning in the dashboard of the 100 meter male, exchanging words with a group of officers before Be struggled on the ground and has hit several times. One of the police officers then moderated Kerley with a paralyzing pistol, familiarly known as Taser, before he was handcuffed.

Kerley was sentenced to prison early Friday morning for battery accusations on an agent of the police, who is a crime of the third degree, as well as to resist an officer and a disorderly conduct, who are crimes. He was released Friday afternoon after making his first appearance in court.

Asked about the arrest of Kerley and the altercation which proceeded, one of the lawyers of Kerley, Yale Sanford, referred to the images of the camera worn by the body published by the police, which he described as “Obscenes”.

“This shows you that no matter how hard you work, or how many medals you win for your country, in Miami Beach last night, my customer was treated like millions of African Americans across the country – with a Lack of humanity, compassion and respect, “Sanford, who works alongside Richard L. Cooper to represent Kerley, told USA Today Sports.

Miami Beach’s police spokesperson Christopher Bess said the incident, like all force use incidents, suffered a standard examination, but the police “responded to the resistance appropriately and professional “.

Why was Fred Kerley stopped?

The altercation between Kerley and the police took place in a commercial area in southern Miami Beach, a few pâtés de l’eau.

In a written police report, the police described Kerley as having “aggressive behavior” when he approached the perimeter of an independent police scene, apparently on the way to his car, which was parked nearby. The police alleged that Kerley “tried to make their way through” two officers despite their requests to bypass the region. An officer then raised his left hand and contacted Kerley, who broke out him.

In the altercation that followed, the police wrote in their report that four police officers tried to place Kerley in detention when he used “evasive movements to avoid being stopped”. One of the officers “then” delivered several hammer fists “to Kerley’s head and the upper back in continuous attempts to master it, according to the police report. A separate video, shared on social networks by a Witness, shows a Kerley striking officer on the side of his chest.

One of the police then not glued his paralyzing pistol, who contacted Kerley’s back and sent him to the ground, where the police proceeded to place it in handcuffs.

“Stop resisting!” One of the officers said to Kerley when he was lying on the ground, depending on the images.

“I can’t resist, I get out of myself, my brother,” Kerley replied, before calling “weak” officers several times.

A small crowd gathered near the scene, according to the images of the body worn out of the body, many spectators holding their phones. Cleo Rahman, who accompanied Kerley and is identified in the police report like his girlfriend, is also heard shouting “Stop!” On several occasions during and after the meeting.

“He didn’t do anything!” She told the police at some point. “We are walking towards our car! Our car is there!”

According to the online judicial archives, Rahman was also arrested for resisting an officer without violence, which is an offense.

Fred Kerley also faces an allegation of domestic battery

A few hours after Kerley’s reservation in prison, another Florida police service filed separate accusations against the sprinter resulting from an alleged domestic incident in May.

According to the police report in this case, Kerley and the victim – who are not appointed but identified by the police as his three -year -old wife – presented themselves to their house in Miami on May 7. The victim told the police that Kerley had taken her mobile phone, then “pushed her to the ground, surrounded his arm around his neck and led to his breathing” before leaving the scene. She said he had then returned the phone but was not at home when the police arrived.

Miami-Dade county police accused Kerley of skilled flight and domestic battery, but a spokesman said he could not locate him and stop him until he was arrested in The Miami Beach affair Thursday evening. Kerley’s lawyer said he was to appear before a judge in the national case on Saturday.

“These new charges arise from a falsified accusation that resurfaced because of this new attention from the new media of the unjustified arrest last night,” Cooper said in a statement.

An American athletic spokesman refused to comment on Kerley’s arrest, but said that the organization was not aware of the household battery charge before its participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games last summer .

Who is Fred Kerley?

Kerley has emerged in recent years as one of the best sprinters in the world and one of the best -known athletics athletes on the American team.

After going from his initial event, the 400 meters, he won a surprising silver medal in the dashboard of the 100 meter male at the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games. The old Sprinter of Texas A&M then followed it with A world championship in the event in 2022, and another Olympic medal (bronze) at the Paris Games last summer. He also participated internationally in the 200 meters and the 4×100 meter relay.

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatuday.com or on social networks @ Tomschad.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on USA Today: Fred Kerley, an American Olympic star, arrested after the police confrontation